Match packet



Sept.- 15, 1942, -r. R. ATKINS m ca PACKET Filed Sept. 13, 1939 Patented Sept. 15, 1942 MATCH PACKET Thomas R. Atkins, Cliftondale, Mass., assignor of forty per cent to Lawrie Mass.

L. Witter, Boston,

Application September 13, 1939, Serial No. 294,638

7 Claims.

This invention relates to matches and more particularly to matches in packet form, and this application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 259,829,'filed March 4, 1939. Such match packets now in common use comprise a cluster of paper matches secured together at their base ends and adapted to be individually torn therefrom,the cluster being attached to a folded paper strip serving as a folder for the matches. When the folder is open the match heads are exposed and printed on the folder is the warning Close cover before striking match, the purpose of this warning being to avoid burns and injuries caused by accidentally igniting the exposed match head end of the cluster. Regardless of this warning, however, such burns and resulting accidents of serious nature do occur. The primary object of my invention is the production of an improved match packet employing a hood for enclosing the head end of the match cluster even when the folder is open.

In accordance with one embodiment of my invention, I provide a folder blank with a relatively wide opening therethrough adjacent to one end of the blank. I extend the head end of a match cluster through this opening and loop this end portion of the blank onto itself to form a hood over the match heads at the top end of the packet. The blank is then folded about the match cluster in a manner enclosing its base end in a U-fold which is stapled to hold the matches in the folder. The matches extend over the extreme hood end of the blank and into the hood, whereby maintaining the hood and protecting the match heads from exposure. The other end portion of the strip is of a length to serve as a pivotal cover for the packet and its extreme end is adapted to tuck into the opening which receives the matches into the hood. The production of such an improved and relatively simple match packet for the purpos described comprises a further object of the invention.

A further feature of my invention relates to complete protection for the match heads by providing closures for the ends of the hood. In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the said relatively wide opening which is formed in the strip for receiving the matches is so constructed that two flaps integral with the strip are provided at the ends of the opening. The inserting of the matches into th opening bends these flaps to a right-angular position wherein they form closures for the ends of the hood whereby protecting the matches against exposure, the flaps also aiding in maintaining the hood. The production of a novel match packet embodying such safety features comprises a further object of the invention.

These and other features, of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of one embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of my improved match packet in closed position,

Fig. 2 illustrates the same in open position,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the back or outer face of a blank from which the folder of the packet is formed,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modified construction,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a packet like that shown in Fig. 1 but wherein the match heads are completely enclosed,

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the back or outer face of a blank from which th folder of this packet is formed,

Fig. 7 illustrates the assembling of the match cluster within the folder.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1-3, I0 indicates a flat blank or strip of paper or the like. A relatively long and transverse opening [2 is formed through the strip [0 adjacent to one end and the other end is out toprovide an end-tab M of a width to fit into the opening. Th cutting out of the material at I2 provides two legs l5 respectively at and integral with opposite edge portions of the strip and connected by a bar 22 at their ends. A transverse bar of striking material may be applied to the strip at It. The purpose of the strip is to receive and house a cluster l8 of matches secured together at their base ends 2|].

In assembling the strip and match pack toether, the head end 25 of the match pack or cluster is extended through the opening l2 and this end portion of the strip is looped forwardly onto itself to form a hood 24 over the match heads at the top end of the packet, as illustrated in Fig. 7. This folding operation places the bar 22 fiat against the front face of the strip. The

blank is then folded'about the match cluster in a manner enclosing its base end in a U-fold 23 which is stapled at 30. When the parts are thus assembled the remaining end portion 32 of the strip is of a length and construction to serve as a cover for the matches when the tab [4 is tucked into the opening 12 over the match heads.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figs.

1-3 the matches overlie the bar 22 and thereby maintain the hood without the use of any further securing means whatever. Furthermore the opening l2 confines the matches and holds them centrally disposed within the pack and within the hood, it being noted that the matches are spaced inwardly of the ends of the hood between the two legs I5. While this form of the invention, in which the matches acting on the bar 22 serve to maintain the hood, is believed to be preferable, it will be understood that the legs [5 or bar 22 can be secured to the strip ID by adhesive or otherwise if desired. In such case, however, the bar 22 might be eliminated and the legs l5 secured directly to the strip by adhesive or the like, as at H in Fig. 4.

The form of invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 provides closures for the ends of the hood whereby completely enclosing the match heads. In this construction, 48 indicates a flat blank like the blank HI except that the opening 42 therein is so formed as to provide two flaps 44 integral with the blank. When the matches are inserted through the opening 62, as illustrated in Fig. '7, and the blank is looped to form the hood 46, the flaps M are bent substantially ninety degrees to the position of Fig. 5 wherein they form closures for the ends of the hood. These closures serve to complete the housing of the match heads within the hood and furthermore aid in maintaining the hood to shape.

It will now be apparent that I have produced a novel and superior match packet which is exceedingly simple and inexpensive and which provides greater safety against igniting accidents than have safety match packets heretofore known. The matches are fully protected at the front of the pack both by the hood and by the tab [4 which overlies the match heads when tucked into the opening I2, and the spacing of the matches substantially within the ends of the hood serves to provide protection at such open ends in the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1-4. In the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, however, the heads are completely protected and this form, which requires no additional material or expense, is believed to be preferable. Attention is furthermore called to the fact that the assembling of the match pack or cluster within the strip folder is an exceedingly 1.

simple operation readily adaptable to rapid machine operation. It will also be apparent that my invention permits of the entire elimination of the cover flap 32 or 32', if such elimination is found desirable. which would ordinarily be placed on the cover flap can be placed on the front faces of the matches individually or collectively.

The matches are removed individually from the pack by pulling each match outwardly-forwardly until its head is withdrawn from the hood and the match is then broken off at its base and in the usual manner. The cover flap is left in open position during striking of the match. This feature not only is convenient since it permits immediate use of the match and the leisurely closing of the cover flap after the lighting has been effected but, of greater importance, the cover flap serves as a further shield protecting the match heads from the striking operation. This latter will be fully apparent from observation of Fig. 2 wherein the cover flap is in open position. It may be further mentioned that the hood positively eliminates all danger of accidentally igniting two contiguous packets by their fric- In such case, advertising tional engagement in the pocket or bag, serious burns from this cause being common with the old style packet.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A match packet comprising strip material havin one end looped onto itself to form a hood, the strip having an opening therethrough adjacent to said one end of the hood but short of said end whereby leaving a bar of the material extending across the strip between said one end and the opening, and a pack of matches attached to the strip at their base ends and extending therefrom over said bar and through the opening into the hood,

2. A match packet comprising a fiat strip having one end portion thereof looped forwardly onto itself to form a hood at the top of the packet and having its other end portion folded forwardly onto itself at the bottom of the packet to form a cover flap, the intermediate portion of the strip forming the packet body, and a pack of matches attached at their base ends to the trip within the bottom fold and extending therefrom to and with their head ends into the hood, the extreme end of the first-named portion of the strip being in contact with the front face of the packet body and being held in such contact by the matches overlapping such extreme end.

3. A match packet comprising strip material having an intermediate portion of one end cut out to form an opening located between two legs respectively at and integral with opposite edge portions of the strip, said end being looped onto the body of the strip to form a hood with said opening extending thereinto, a pack of matches attached to the strip at the base ends of the matches and having the head ends thereof extending through the opening into the hood between said legs, and means at said one end of the strip for holding the outer ends of said legs in hood-maintaining position relative to the body of the strip.

4. A match packet comprising strip material having one end looped over to form a hood at the top end of the packet and having an oblong opening therethrough into the hood, the openin extending transversely across the strip material and its ends being spaced inwardly of the longitudinal edges thereof, a pack of matches attached to the strip material at the base ends of the matches and having the head ends thereof extending through said opening into the hood to such position that the hood protects the heads of the matches from exposure, and means for maintaining the hood.

5. A match packet comprising a fiat strip having one end portion thereof looped forwardly over the strip at the top of the packet to form a hood and having its other end portion folded forwardly over the strip at the bottom of the packet to form a cover flap, the intermediate portion of the strip forming the packet body, a pack of matches attached at their base ends to the strip within the bottom fold and extending therefrom to and with their head ends in the hood in such position that the hood protects the heads of the matches from exposure, and two closure flaps within and spaced from the ends of the hood respectively outside the match heads, the flaps being integral with the strip along two fold lines and being cut from an interior portion of the strip located between said lines.

6. A match packet comprising strip material having an intermediate portion of one end cut out to form an openin located between two legs respectively at and integral with opposite edge portions of the strip, said end being looped onto the body of the strip to form a hood with said opening extending thereinto, a pack of matches attached to the strip at the base ends of the matches and having the head ends thereof extending through the opening into the hood between said legs, means holding the outer ends of said legs in hood-maintaining position relative to the body of the strip, and means carried by the packet independently of the matches for closing the ends of the hood and protecting the match heads from exposure.

7 A match packet comprising a flat strip having one end portion thereof looped forwardly over the strip at the top of the packet to form a hood and having its other end portion folded forwardly over the strip at the bottom of the packet to form a cover flap, the intermediate portion of the strip forming the packet body and the strip having an oblong opening therethrough and extending transversely thereof short of the side edges of the strip and located adjacent to the hood end of the strip, a pack of matches attached at its base end to the strip within the bottom fold and extending therefrom through said opening and into the hood in such position that the hood protects the heads of the matches from exposure, and nieans carried by the strip and forming closures for the ends of the hood outside the match heads therein to protect the match heads from exposure.

THOMAS R. ATKINS. 

